Renzi: «If for Calenda I am a monster, friends as before …». The split of the group is closer

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The “war of the Roses” between Carlo Calenda and Matteo Renzi continues unabated. In short, the climate in the Third Pole is worsening even if both leaders say they do not want to dissolve the parliamentary groups that still see them united. Group IV in the Senate? «We asked Azione to know if they want to be in the same group, if we share the future or not, if we have to take a journey together. Do we move in together or do we stay apart? I ask Action, we want to be on the list together, right? The future together is the European list. If we want to experience a journey together but the attacks continue, we are not together. If you think he is a monster, friends as before, but I would like us to talk about politics and measures”. The leader of IV, Matteo Renzi, told Sky Tg 24. «Do we go together with the Europeans, yes or no? If he doesn’t want to, tell him.”

Third pole: Paita, assembly of senators postponed to Monday

The distances between Renzi and Calenda thus put the unity of the groups in parliament at risk. Calenda closed the hypothesis of a common list of the Third Pole in view of the European elections. Raffaella Paita, president of the Action-Italia Viva group in the Senate, asks that the former minister of economic development clarify her position. Paita postponed the group meeting from Saturday 20 May to Monday 22. «Following Carlo Calenda’s changes of opinion requires Job’s patience – she confided -. Yesterday at 17.25 I called the meeting for Saturday, online. At 17.28 Calenda thanked and confirmed his presence. Now he has changed his mind and wants to change the day. The truth is that this way of doing is inexplicable: he goes to talks to insult Renzi but he does not accept that we talk about it in a group meeting. To avoid problems, however, I have decided to postpone the group meeting from Saturday to Monday, at 21, with the possibility of connecting online. I find it quite cynical – added Paita – that the flood question is mentioned as a reason to postpone the meeting. On Tuesday evening when our hearts and attention were focused on Romagna, Calenda on La7 attacked Renzi in the studio with Floris and Bersani. But everyone is responsible for his choices. The meeting of senators will therefore be held on Monday 22 May at 21.00».

Pressing the Chamber to replace Richetti

There is also pressure in the Chamber, where the IV deputies question the group leader Matteo Richetti, close to Calenda, and ask that his role be filled by two personalities considered more prone to dialogue or “bridgers”: either Enrico Costa, or Mara Carfagna, both from Azione.